A Marshall Plan for urban transport
Faced with the many problems encountered by citizens in urban transport, the Minister of the Interior could not stand idly by. To meet the challenges facing this sector, a new strategy was needed to efficiently manage its various aspects.
Abdelouafi Laftit has drawn up an initial program for the 2024-2029 period. This Marshall Plan covers more than 32 cities, with the acquisition of a total fleet of 3,500 buses. The cost of this operation is estimated at 10 billion Dirhams (USD 10 billion). These investments include fleet components, maintenance centers, bus depots and parking facilities, ticketing systems, and management support systems, said the Minister of the Interior during question time in the House of Representatives on Monday.
To implement this program, the Ministry has adopted several measures. Firstly, the need to carry out preliminary studies to prepare for the delegated management of bus transport. Secondly, it will be necessary to separate the investment and management functions, as the investment costs will be covered by contributions from the Ministry of the Interior, from local authorities, as well as from inter-municipal cooperation bodies, groupings of local authorities and regions. This will guarantee the completion of all investment components and ensure the continuity of this vitally important service. The next stage will be to draw up specifications for assistance with project supervision, to support the new model of delegated management contracts, and finally to draw up specifications for the acquisition of buses, to ensure a more appropriate choice of vehicles and their owners. This will be achieved by issuing invitations to tender as soon as possible, giving priority to the local manufacture of buses. In parallel with this operation, the Ministry of the Interior is revising all documents relating to delegated management contracts in the light of the new model. The department will also be reviewing existing contracts, which are experiencing a number of financial and management problems. The aim is to adapt them and take all necessary measures to restore budget balance and improve services.
Mohamed CHAOUI
